The Love of The Father (Entering into His rest)

Matthew 11:25-30 msg
25) Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer "Thank You, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth. You've concealed Your ways from sophisticates and know -It -alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.
26) Yes, Father, that's the way that You like to work."
27)Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.
28) "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover you life. I'll show you how to take a real rest.
29) walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of Grace (God's overwhelming desire to treat you and me as if sin never happened) I won't lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you.
30) keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly"

As i was listening to my pastor today, this stuck out at me....that i was to share this passage of scripture as quoted in the Message Bible.

This clearly states that God loves us so much that He has decided to make His ways known to those of us (whosoevers from John 3:16) who have ears to hear. But we have to choose to hear. In Matthew 13:15 it says that the hearts of the people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes - so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear and their hearts cannot understand. (Honestly looking at this passage.... these people made a choice to harden their hearts and have ears to not hear).....So how does one get ears to hear? You say Father i choose to have ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart that understands. Then thank Him for opening our ears and minds and hearts.

As we listen to Him tenderly telling the people that The Father desires for us to know how to have and live a peaceful and stress free life. One full of resting in Him and His ability to take care of us. Which is also connected to Hebrews 4:1-11.

If we put this scripture with Galatians 3:13-14 "Christ hath redeemed (past tense or already done 2000 years ago) us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us: for it is written cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: get this now......... vs. 14....that the Blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles through Jesus Christ; that WE might receive the Promise of the Spirit through faith. KJV


Lets read this in the nlt........But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the scriptures, "cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree". Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the gentiles with the same blessing He promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the Promised Holy Spirit by Faith.

As i read ahead of the verses above...I am thinking that God wants me to share those to. Vs. 15-29

15)"Dear brothers and sisters, here is an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case.
16) God gave the promises to Abraham and His child. And notice that the scripture doesn't say "to his children," as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says "to his child" - that of course, means Christ.
17) This is what i am trying to say: the agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking His promise.
18) For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God's promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.
19) Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the Child who was promised. God gave His law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.
20) Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when He gave His promise to Abraham.
21) Is there a conflict, then, between God's law and God's promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it.
22) But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God's promise of freedom Only by believing in Jesus Christ.
23) Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
24) Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through Faith.
25) And now that the way of Faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
26) For you are all children of God through Faith in Christ Jesus.
27) And all who have been united with Christ in baptism, have put on Christ like putting on new clothes.
28) There is no longer Jew or gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29) And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are His heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you.

So when we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior....we now become adopted into the Kingdom of God's dear Son. Doesn't that just make you want to shout? Glory be to Jesus! His Word done preached me happy!
 
@Cturtle
Hello and greetings,
Thank youfor posting these scritpures in the msg version. I like the way they word things. Gets the point of the message through. I am gonna have to get me one of those to add to my KJ.
God Bless
Jim
 
As we listen to Him tenderly telling the people that The Father desires for us to know how to have and live a peaceful and stress free life.

I'm reminded of the incident in Scripture where a storm came up and the men in the boat were in great fear. Meanwhile Jesus (a phrase worth exploring in and of itself, for the depth of the understanding of His Authority over all things) is sleeping in the boat; and wen woken by the fear of the men, simply rebukes the storm, and it ceases.

In my own life, as I approach the "Throne of Grace" at various moments (both in my set-aside "quiet time with Him" and in moments of uncertainty and trouble) I find myself remembering what HIS perspective must be, and that takes me to a different place in my thinking; in my heart, and drives out the doubt, eliminates the fear, and builds my confidence in His Sovereignty over everything.

Often in my meager attempts to help my wife thru some hard physical days, due to her M.S., I find soft ways of reminding her of the tender Compassion of God, in spite of the pain. What I am learning (even in my own life, but also in observing others who suffer) is that it is up to the person who is struggling, to refocus. I can't do it for them. Each of us chooses, moment by moment, situation by situation, how we will respond. That's the "free will" part of us. When that handing over of the trouble is done, it is remarkable to watch the healing of the spirit of the person who has truly surrendered that trouble, that pain, that situation.

Years ago, when living in Ohio for a fairly short while with my wife and (then) small children, I had a job in a hospital, as a Certified Nurses Assistant.

One of my jobs, was to respond to what were known as "Crash Calls" (patients who were dying and in need of immediate response by a "Critical" team) with a "Crash Cart," which had various life-saving devices and drugs on it.

I recall my beeper going off, at the same time as a public address system rang out a verbal coding, indicating the need for the "Crash Team."

I grabbed the "Crash Cart" and ran/walked to the location.

In the room stood an array of Doctors and Nurses, in a horseshoe around a bed, on which lay a very elderly woman, ashen gray and unmoving. What surprised me, was that all the Doctors and Nurses were not busily running around doing "this and that," but rather, were all standing there silently, watching the patient in the bed.

I brought in the Crash Cart, and tapped one of the Doctors closest to me, on the shoulder, to tell him the "Crash Cart" had arrived. He waved me off, and said, "ok stand by." So I did as the others, and just stood there.

After about two minutes, I asked the Doctor, "why are ya'll just standing here? Shouldn't there be something done?" His response surprised me, and it would be a while before I absorbed the full depth of it. He said, "We've done everything humanly possible we can at this point, and it is up to the patient now. Either her body will respond to what we've done, or it won't."

Within the next three minutes or so, as I stood there watching the patient like the rest of the Staff, I watched that woman's skin go from ashen gray, to a lovely pinkish color. She opened her eyes, smiled and looked around, and it was clear that she was going to take that 'turn" toward the intervention, and not away from it.

I suppose there is a complex answer here. Some will say, "well that's the physiological response being observed." Others will say, "well God chose to bring her back." Still others would say "The choice was made." All these responses would be true. For ME, it was a lesson that man is only capable of so much, before sometimes the Master of all things must take over, and set the agenda.

How I live in my life, in response to the knowledge that we serve a Mighty God, who is not overwhelmed and in full Control of all things, is what I focus on most of all. Eternal questions, and even daily issues, ......all are under His Care and Scrutiny. He is not surprised by it, and is able to do "all that we ask or think..............." (you finish the verse).

-Soupy
 
Thank you @Steve Campbell for your response and very encouraging thoughts and words. They are greatly appreciated!

In my life i think the hardest things was to learn how to lead someone to the water, and not get upset because they chose not to drink. Or waiting for the person to decide to drink of the Lord's goodness. I really don't like watching someone go through things to get to the point where they finally decide to accept what God has to offer. But like you said when they do it is so wonderful to watch the connection that is made and the peace that comes because of it.

Learning that each person's relationship with the Lord is something that they have to develop, and at their pace is priceless.

And i really appreciate the verse that you have drawn attention to....great post!
 
In my life i think the hardest things was to learn how to lead someone to the water, and not get upset because they chose not to drink. Or waiting for the person to decide to drink of the Lord's goodness.


Very concise thought! I am going thru that right now. After 38 years of marriage, I'm seeing my own wife, a gal I know very well of course, walk away from God, family and basically everything.

Depression, self-loathing, drug-induced partially by a few of the drugs that she needs for her M.S.. Suicidal tendencies; a "flight risk." All this in spite of Professional Counseling and loving care by all around her.

All the love I can muster, all the kind words of encouragement, all the patience I show, doesn't sem to matter. I can get thru to the strong Christian woman I once knew, but not completely. She has reserved within herself, a determination to find other answers. But in the end, she will discover that the loving family around her, and the life God has allowed us together, is the best place for her to rest. I only hope she doesn't have to make that discovery, too late.

Unfortunately, all of the rest of see her reckless abandon as dangerous to herself, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I believe the Lord wants me to love her unconditionally, and I continue to do so. But the ragged edge she's riding, is a dangerous road, and I am actively asking God to place a hedge of Protection around her, as she wanders.

It is always possible, that she will NOT turn around however, and the carnal side of me wants to fight back; but I won't allow that. I won't give Satan "place" in this situation. I will (as the Brits say) "give him no quarter." I am determined to declare that only God will occupy the center of my thoughts, no matter what comes.

Why? Because "only God" has control over my eternal destiny. "Only God" can reach down deep inside and transform a heart towards those things that are pure and lovely and of good report.

Your words ring true as I read them (as quoted) and remind me that our battle may SEEM like it is against flesh and blood, but indeed it's deeper than that.

2015 has started out to be a HORRIBLE year for attacks from Satan. In conversation after conversation, with family, friends, etc., I hear how they have been under attack in various ways. It's as if Satan is deluging the Christian family with everything he's got. As if he knows that Christs return is very near. "Even so come, Lord Jesus!"

All the more reason that we as "believers," as flawed and covered in scars as we may be, must be all the more resolved to be faithful in all things; declaring in His Name, declaring freedom from fear, worry and doubt. Digging deeply into the Word and faithfully staying on our knees in prayer.

As we continue to move forward, and hopefully not backwards, I choose in MY life, to let my lips ring out songs of Praise. "I" choose to be an open door to the Holy Spirit, to use me as He desires. Do I stumble; WILL I stumble..........sure! I'm not perfect. But I have a Master who's Hold is Sure, and Strong; Faithful and True! A keeper of His Promises.

I once new a man who was a World War II Veteran, who attended a Nazarene Church I was part of some years ago. He had become a Teacher of Mathematics after the war. He and his wife were lovely people (he now deceased; not sure about his wife) and we enjoyed their company. I liked to hear his stories about the war, and flying in Bombers. At one point, in fact, he and his crew were shot down in Europe. He survived (obviously) but spent a part of the war as a POW, before finally being released.

One day at Church, not knowing how much of a staunch "Nazarene" he was, (their Doctrine of perfection) I was surprised when he said , "I don't sin."
Flat out..........."I don't sin."

Now for those of you who understand (whether you support it or not, only you know) their Doctrine well, you "get" what he's saying. But at face value, it comes across as arrogant and prideful, to say such a thing. Downright dangerous in some ways.

As for me, I KNOW I'm going to sin. Perhaps less than before, (hopefully), but "I'm just a pilgrim, in search of a city" (the old song says), who constantly has to keep his guard up as I travel. ("Pilgrims Progress"). There are pitfalls, snares, false guides, all over the place. I cannot afford to loosen my grip on the Master Jesus, and I know HIS Grip is strong on ME.

No matter what..........I'm His...........

Do I want my journey to continue in the Grace of the relationship that He gave to me with my wife? Absolutely! Will she come around? I sure hope so! More importantly, will she allow God to speak to her heart, or will she shut Him out, because she no longer wants to hear Him speak. Only time will tell.

For now, I remain faithful in the things I know to do. Care for my job, our dogs, our house, our kids, our grandkids...........and wait. Hopefully she will "find herself" in Him, and will find her way back. I'm on the path (if you will) attempting to shine my flashlight, to show her the way thru, but she has to make the choice to follow the beacon. I can't make that choice FOR her.

-soupy
 
For now, I remain faithful in the things I know to do. Care for my job, our dogs, our house, our kids, our grandkids...........and wait. Hopefully she will "find herself" in Him, and will find her way back. I'm on the path (if you will) attempting to shine my flashlight, to show her the way thru, but she has to make the choice to follow the beacon. I can't make that choice FOR her.
This is just what she needs. I was in a reverse situation where I turned my back to God and my wife's faith brought me back. Back in the 90's I went through some difficult times. I was in a bad car accident that resulted in a closed head injury and depression, my mother died, followed one week later by my grandma dying. I spun out of control and ended up leaving my wife - twice. Once in '95 for 6 months and again in '99 for a year. During that second time I started noticing something in my wife. Her love for Jesus never waned. It seemed like in this time of trouble it was actually growing stronger. She had a peace about her that shined. I wanted to know that same peace and it led me back to God (who led me back to my family). It was her shining her flashlight that showed me my way through. She didn't preach to me, or lecture me (that probably would not have worked) - she just kept reflecting God's love. Now this month we will be celebrating our 34th anniversary.

Hang in there, brother. You have the right attitude. Keep praying, keep the faith, rebuke Satan and keep shining God's light to her.
 
As I read both of your posts....I am greatly encouraged by the Love that God has brought you both! And great full that God is so real and big in your lives!

Soupy....if i may suggest, if you are not already asking God for scriptures to pray and speak over your wife that you do so. I have seen God do mighty things when i speak the Word over my situations and family, even when what i see is the opposite. Thank You for being the loving man that she has in her life. And for obediently walking according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
I will be joining you in prayer for her and covering her in Psalms 91 and a hedge of protection!

Blessings to you both!
 
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